Mixing implement for mixers



g 22, 1967 KARL'AUGUST BERKER 3,337,193

MIXING IMPLEMENT FOR MIXERS Filed April 25, 1966 Fig. 2 22 20 I 23 19 18 k A -23 l8 1 x n n.

20 19 fig: Fig. 4

INVENTOR Karl-Augusfi Berker GYM ATTORNEYS United States Patent Office ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A mixer having a centrifugal blade disposed just above the bottom and a suction blade above the centrifugal blade. Further rotating blades above the suction blade arrangement assist the circulatory movement of the material being mixed.

Specification The present invention relates generally to the mixing art, and, more particularly, to a mixing implement for mixers which provides a better and more rapid homogeneity to the material being mixed.

The mixing implement in the mixing container imparts a circulatory movement to the material being mixed which movement follows a path which is toroidal in form. The degree of friction between the particles of the material being mixed depends upon the intensity of the circulatory movement. The greater the degree of friction, the more rapid is the material to be mixed heated for its preparation, particularly when dealing with plastic substances. Thus, the time required for heating the material being mixed depends to a substantial extent on the intensity of the circulatory movement.

With this in mind it is a main object of the present invention to provide an arrangement for improving and intensifying the circulatory movement of material being mixed.

Another object of the invention is to provide a mixing arrangement particularly for use with sensitive plastic materials which are to be heated, which provides a more advantageous mixing and therefore shortens the heatingup time of the material to a maximum extent, thereby improving the quality.

These objects and others ancillary thereto are accomplished in accordance with preferred embodiments of the invention wherein a mixing container is provided with a centrifugal blade plate disposed slightly above the bottom of the container. A suction blade arrangement is provided above the centrifugal blade plate. In accordance with the invention further rotating blades are provided above the suction blade arrangement to assist the circulatory movement of the mixing material. These are moved in a horizontal plane and are preferably located a sufficient distance above the plane of rotation of the suction blade. These supplementary circulatory stirring blades are preferably disposed a distance above the suction blade which substantially corresponds to the length of the stirring blades. The supplementary blades are preferably secured to a hub which is coupled to the hub of the suction blades. Because of the supplementary blades a substantial improvement in the working conditions is provided and particularly the heating-up time is reduced by approximately A further significant improvement is provided by arranging the supplementary blades to extend radially outwardly from a rotating ring which is mounted by means of carrier arms on the ends of the vanes of the suction blade. With a mixing implement so designed the heating-up time can be shortened by more than 30% so that the operation of mixers of this type becomes much more economical.

Additional objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon consideration of the following description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a diagrammatic cross-sectional view through a first embodiment of a mixer constructed in 9.0- I

cordance with the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a diagrammatic cross-sectional view through a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIGURE 3' is a diagrammatic plan view of the arrangement shown in FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is a detail view showing one manner of attaching the supplementary blades of FIGURE 2 to the ring.

With more particular reference to the drawings, FIG- URE 1 shows an arrangement in which a mixer 12 is provided having a mixing implement 11. The lower portion is constructed in known manner of a centrifugal blade plate 13 and a suction blade 14. In accordance with the present invention further blades 15 are arranged above the suction blades 14 and are secured to a hub 16. This hub 16 for the supplementary blades can be coupled or directly connected to the hub 17 of the suction blade 14. The blades 15 are mounted with substantially the same attitude as the vanes of the suction blade 14. For example, they would be mounted at the same angle. When the mixing implement 11 as shown in FIGURE 1 is used, the heating-up time of the material to be mixed can be shortened and also an increased amount of material to be mixed can be introduced into the container.

With more particular reference to FIGURE 2 another embodiment of the mixing implement 11' is shown in a container 12'. The lower portion is constructed in known manner of a bladed centrifugal plate 13 in a similar manner as is the plate 13 of FIGURE 1. The suction blade 14' is arranged above it. Carrier arms 18 are connected to the ends of the vanes of the suction blade 14' and a ring 19 is secured to the top of these carrier arms. A plurality of outwardly projecting blades 20 is connected to ring 19 as can be seen more particularly from FIG- URE 3. The carrier arms 18 preferably have a stream lined profile and rotate in the center 21 of the torus 22 formed by the material being mixed, and in this location they encounter the smallest degree of resistance.

If desired or required it is also possible to provide supplementary blades 23 on the inside of ring 19 and which project radially inwardly and the angle of which is oppositely directed with respect to that of the outer blades 20 as can be seen from FIGURE 2.

As shown in FIGURE 4 the blades 20 can be connected to the ring 19 by means of a bolt arrangement 24 so that the bolt can be loosened when desired and the angle of the blades changed so that they can be adapted to the ends of the vanes of the suction blade 14' and would be tightened to hold the blades in the adjusted po sition.

It can thus be seen that the present invention provides an arrangement which enhances mixing of the material. The energy utilized for driving the mixing implement of the present invention is not very considerably greater than that required for driving the previously known implements. The carrier arms for the ring are arranged in such a manner that they travel in the center of the torus formed by the mixing material and therefore provide practically no frictional resistance. If required, supplementary inwardly projecting blades can be mounted on the ring which are then mounted to have an oppositely directed angle from those of the outwardly directed blades. It is advantageous under certain circumstances to provide these Patented Aug. 22, 1967 blades with a varying angle, that is, the angle of the blades from the ring toward the free ends thereof increases, or the blades are rotated outwardly from the point at which they are secured.

It will be understood that the above description of the present invention is susceptible to various modifications, changes, and adaptations, and the same are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A mixing arrangement particularly suitable for the preparation of plastics or the like, comprising, in combination:

a container in which material is to be mixed;

a centrifugal bladed plate mounted for rotating movement slightly above the bottom of said container;

a suction blade mounted for rotating movement and disposed above said plate; and

further rotating blades disposed above said suction blade for assisting the circulatory travel of the material to be mixed, and carrier arms mounted at the ends of the vanes of said suction blade, a rotating ring mounted on said carrier arms, and said further blades being arranged to project radially outwardly from said rotating ring.

2. A device as defined in claim 1 wherein the carrier arms are connected to said suction blade in a position where they travel through the center of a torus formed by the mixing material when the device is in operation.

3. A device as defined in claim 2 comprising supplementary blades mounted on said ring and projecting radially inwardly and being mounted at the same angle as the suction blade.

4. A device as defined in claim 3 wherein said rotating blades are pivotably secured to said ring.

5. A device as defined in claim 4 wherein the carrier arms have a stream-lined profile.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3/1962 Sperli ng 259134 X 1/1965 Chapman 259135 

1. A MIXING ARRANGEMENT PARTICULARLY SUITABLE FOR THE PREPARATION OF PLASTIC OR THE LIKE, COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION: A CONTAINER IN WHICH MATERIAL IS TO BE MIXED; A CENTRIFUGAL BLADED PLATE MOUNTED FOR ROTATING MOVEMENT SLIGHTLY ABOVE THE BOTTOM OF SAID CONTAINER; A SUCTION BLADE MOUNTED FOR ROTATING MOVEMENT AND DISPOSED ABOVE SAID PLATE; AND FURTHER ROTATING BLADES DISPOSED ABOVE SAID SUCTION BLADE FOR ASSISTING THE CIRCULATORY TRAVEL OF THE MATERIAL TO BE MIXED, AND CARRIER ARMS MOUNTED AT THE ENDS OF THE VANES OF SAID SUCTION BLADE, A ROTATING RING MOUNTED ON SAID CARRIER ARMS, AND SAID FURTHER BLADES BEING ARRANGED TO PROJECT RADIALLY OUTWARDLY FROM SAID ROTATING RING. 